Delhi Sultanate Social Effects:
(1) Caste System- Islam strengthened the conservatism of the orthodox Hindus, who as a defensive measure increased the rigidity of the Caste system. Some famous authors of Smriti’s work laid down stringent rules of daily life with a view to fortifying Hinduism against the onslaught of Islam. In order to save themselves from the Muslims, the Hindus began to follow their caste rules strictly and in this way, the Caste system became more and more rigid. Muslims also became divided on the basis of caste in India.
(2) Spirit of Luxury and Pleasure Fastened in the Indian Society- In the beginning, the Muslim Conquerors led a hard life but soon excess of wealth and love of pleasure completely degenerated them. Wine drinking, gambling, and hunting became the order of the day. The nobles and Amirs in the court vied with one another in indulging their pleasure pursuits. Most of the Sultans of Delhi were addicted to drinking in excess. It is said that at one time when the royal forces were besieging the fort of Iqdab in Bengal, his general Totar Khan found Firoz Tughlaq lying half-naked with wine cups concealed in his bed. This habit of drinking ruined the health of the Sultan. The Amirs and Malik vied with each other in surpassing in the matter of drinking. This spirit of luxury and pleasure gradually was fastened in Indian society also. Luxurious habits were adopted both by Muslims and Hindu kings, nobles, and officers.
(3) Introduction of Purdah System- There was no purdah system among the Hindus before the arrival of the Muslims in India. The Muslims observed the Purdah System very rigorously and so its influence on the Hindu subjects was somewhat natural. But the Hindus adopted it more because of the changed circumstances rather than in imitation of the Muslims. In order to save their women from the covetous eyes of the Muslims the Hindus adopted the Purdah system. Gradually Purdah system became common during the medieval period.
(4) The Position of Women- Although the women enjoyed respect and influence at home, they were completely dependent on their husbands or male relatives and had to live in seclusion behind the Purdah. Some of the aristocratic Muslim families adopted the Hindu custom of Sati and Jauhar and of dowry, etc.
(5) Popularity of Child Marriage- Most of the Muslim rulers and nobles married Hindu women by force but they spared married women as a convention, not as a rule. Forced by these circumstances, the Hindus began to marry their daughters at a very early age. So child marriage became popular and common.
(6) Restriction on Liberty of Women- The Muslims do not like to give liberty to their womenfolk. Firoz Tughlaq, a great protagonist of Islam, had formulated certain rules prohibiting women even from visiting the tombs of pirs and holy saints outside the city. The prophet had said, “Those people that make women their ruler will not find salvation.” Consequently, the Hindus also began to put certain restrictions on the liberty of their woman after the fashion of the rulers.
(7) Increase in the Miseries of the People- The occupation of India by the Muslims led to a general increase in the miseries of the common people. They regard themselves as superior to the Hindus who were treated with contempt for their idolatry. High-class Muslims kept aloof and there was not much of a social intercourse between the Hindus and the Muslims. Alauddin Khiliji followed a policy of deliberately impoverishing the Hindus. The Hindus were treated with distrust and humiliation. They never got an opportunity to grow to their full stature. The rule of the Sultanate extending over more than three hundred years was a period of most degradation to the Hindus. They had to pay ‘Jazia’, their temples and religious places were destroyed and no efforts were spared to reduce them to the position of ‘hewers of wood and drawer of water’.
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